The meeting began with Councillor Diane Beggany, chair of the Bochannerea committee, welcoming attendees and noting that the meeting would be recorded. Apologies were received from Councillors Leanne Winnie and David Mayer. A roll call confirmed the presence of several councillors and officers, including Amanda Roebuck, Alan Ward, Alan Anderson, John Simard, Ron Spidley, Rob Simpson, Michael Cassie from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Teresa Mootigheri.

Declarations of Interest

Several councillors declared interests in Item 6 due to connections with James Buchan and Alan Feakley. Councillor Alan Simpson made a transparency statement but decided to stay for the discussion. Councillors Alan Buchan, Matthew James, Steven Smith, Hannah Powell, and George Ward also declared interests but chose to remain in the meeting.

Public Safety and Quality Duty Guidance

The committee moved on to Item 2, Public Safety and Quality Duty Guidance, with no objections raised.

Tribute to Former Councillor Albert Houghy

Councillor Diane Beggany paid tribute to former Councillor Albert Houghy, who represented the Minter Old Deer Ward from 2003 to 2012 and recently passed away. A service of thanksgiving was held on May 10th. The committee expressed condolences to Albert's friends and family.

Peterhead Museum Award

The committee celebrated Peterhead Museum winning the Best of the Best Award 2024 for Historic Tour Operator of the Year, Scotland. A letter of congratulations will be sent to the museum's manager and staff.

Draft Minutes Approval

The draft minutes of the meeting held on May 14, 2024, were approved without objections.

Education and Children's Services Year-End Performance Report 2023/24

Lawrence presented the Education and Children's Services Year-End Performance Report. Key points included:

• Foundation Apprenticeship Programme: A 26% increase in completion rates.
• Numeracy and Literacy: Numeracy outperformed literacy, with ongoing efforts to improve literacy through various programs and funding.
• Secondary Education: Slight dip in young people attaining five or more level five qualifications at the end of S4, but improvement in higher presentations at the end of S5.
• LLA Usage: Increase of 4.6% in usage, although not yet back to pre-COVID levels.

Councillor Matthew James raised questions about performance targets, which Lawrence addressed by explaining the process of setting and refining targets. Councillor Anne Simpson expressed concerns about literacy rates and the poverty-related attainment gap, which Lawrence acknowledged and assured would be addressed.

Landscape Services Work Programme 2024/25

Alan Anderson and Joanne Silver presented the Landscape Services Work Programme. Key points included:

• Burial Grounds: Maintenance of footpaths, tree works, and headstone repairs.
• Parks and Open Spaces: Play park maintenance, tree works, sports field maintenance, and beach maintenance.

Councillor Matthew James inquired about the necessity of pitch aeration at Dales Park pitches, given recent archaeological work. Alan confirmed that aeration would not be needed. Councillor Jane Poussin raised concerns about the condition of graveyards, which Alan assured would be addressed through routine maintenance.

Councillor Anne Simpson expressed disappointment over the lack of participatory budgeting and sought clarity on the allocation of capital funds for play parks. Alan explained the consultation process with community councils and the timeline for implementing improvements.

The committee approved the proposals for allocating revenue funding and made comments on the proposals for capital projects within the area for landscape services.

The meeting concluded with a 10-minute comfort break. The meeting focused on the appointment of a chair and members for the Peterhead Town Board, the introduction of the UK Government's long-term plan for towns, and various community and operational updates from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. The meeting also covered performance indicators for business services and discussed the place-based policy and strategy.

Peterhead Town Board Appointment

The council discussed the appointment of a chair and members for the newly established Peterhead Town Board. Amanda Moore, Area Manager, presented the report. The UK Government's long-term plan for towns aims to provide long-term investment in specific towns, including Peterhead, to regenerate high streets, town centres, and secure public safety. The board will be chaired by a local community leader or business person and will include the local MP, two councillors, and a representative from Seemly Scotland.

Councillor Smith proposed Brian McCombie for the chair position, citing his relevant experience and community involvement. Councillor James proposed James Buchan, emphasizing his business connections and impartiality. After a vote, James Buchan was appointed as the chair. Councillors Matthew James and Smith were nominated to represent Aberdeenshire Council on the board, with Councillors McWhinney and Colin Simpson as substitutes.

Place-Based Policy and Strategy

Amanda Rowe, Area Manager, presented the draft place-based policy and strategy. The policy aims to provide clear direction for officers to work in a fundamentally different way, focusing on data and community engagement. Councillor James raised concerns about capacity and data sets, which Amanda addressed by explaining the use of existing resources and the inclusion of fringe areas in the place plans. Councillor Simpson expressed concerns about the community planning aspect, particularly involving the NHS.

Business Services Performance Indicators

Rob Simpson, Director, presented the year-end performance report for business services. The report highlighted issues with customer service call wait times and abandonment rates, primarily due to staff turnover. The council has reallocated staff from closed service points to the contact centre, which has shown improvements. Councillor Smith questioned the savings from closing service points, and Rob clarified that the savings came from deleting vacant posts.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Update

Michael Cassie from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service provided an update on incidents and community initiatives. There were 101 incidents in the Buchan area, including 10 deliberate fires and 20 accidental fires. The service engaged with Peterhead Academy students to address fire-setting behavior. Community initiatives like the Breakfast Club and upcoming events were also discussed. Michael Cassie announced his transfer, and his replacement will be Euan Cangal.

Statement of Outstanding Business

Amanda Rowe provided updates on outstanding business items, including participatory budgeting within landscape services and landscaping at the Terex site. Councillor Adam Simpson requested a separate session to discuss advice and services, which Amanda confirmed would be scheduled.

The meeting concluded with no further comments or questions.